The U.S. surfactant market is large, mature, and likely to grow at a rate of 2‐3% over the next 10 years. The household, personal care and industrial markets will maintain roughly the same market shares of the total that they have held historically. Within the household market, there should be a continued trend toward the use of alcohol‐based surfactants at the expense of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS). Several factors point to greater usage of nonionics in the future: popularity of heavy‐duty liquids and detergents containing enzymes and fabric softeners, a trend to lower laundry wash temperatures and decreasing dependence on phosphate builders. In personal care end uses, alpha olefin sulfonates are expected to show growth due to cost performance advantages in liquid soaps and shampoos. The industrial surfactant market will remain highly segmented and will grow at ca. 3% annually, mainly as a result of overall industrial expansion. Ample capacity and anticipated feedstock availability at acceptable prices will allow producers of synthetic surfactants to satisfy demand through the rest of the decade. Research will lead to formulations aimed at cooler laundry washing conditions and increased enzyme usage. Enhanced oil recovery may involve new surfactants, but large‐scale consumption will not begin before the end of the decade.
The petrochemical industry (PCI) has undergone profound changes during the last decade and is continuing to adjust to changing world economic conditions. One of the most important of these is the price of crude oil. Although an equilibrated pricing structure remains to be demonstrated, anticipated adequacy of supply and versatile, innovative methods of converting crude and natural gas to high valued products assures it a vital and healthy future. The product areas in which the PCI and the oleochemical industry (OCi) overlap are actually quite small in terms of the total capacity. In those limited areas of overlap, we expect the role of the PCI during the next several years to continue to be one of a complementary nature. By providing security of supply at competitive prices, it will create confidence and reliability which will benefit both the petrochemical and oleochemical industries. And most significantly, the resources of the petrochemical industry will also allow it to respond to new market conditions, particularly those of accelerated volume needs and specific performance, with the flexibility and creativity which have been its hallmarks.
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